Hydroelectric power and wet infrastructure developer MWH Global has opened an office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which the company said will serve as a hub for its construction, engineering and administrative staff in Africa.

MWH Global has been active in helping Ethiopia with water and energy related challenges since the 1970s, the Colorado-based company said, and has since provided services for a number of projects in the country.

The Ethiopia Electric Power Company (EEPco) selected MWH as owner's engineers for the 300-MW Tekeze hydroelectric plant in 1998, and the company more recently provided similar services for the 254-MW Genale-Dawa Multipurpose Hydropower Project.

MWH has also signed an agreement to collaborate on additional hydropower and water management projects with the Water Works Design and Supervision Enterprise, which is an Addis Ababa-based firm dedicated to water resource research, development and utilization.

"MWH has long been committed to providing solutions for our clients' needs, and this office will put us in better position to realize the growth potential we see in Ethiopia and throughout Africa," said MWH President of Energy and Industry Joe Adams.

Ethiopia, which currently has a developed hydropower capacity of 4,000 MW, contains as much as 45,000 MW of hydroelectric potential, according to MWH.

"We look forward to expanding our service offerings to new and existing clients in Ethiopia and beyond as we continue our mission of building a better world," Adams said.

The company has announced that Craig Harris will serve as the Ethiopia country manager, having obtained more than 30 years of industry experience in Peru, Argentina, Nicaragua, Iceland, Pakistan, and most recently, Chicago, Ill.

MWH Global currently operate in more than 30 countries on six continents.